Fun historical fiction read about WWII.

This is book #2 of the Highland Girls series. I have enjoyed both of them. You will enjoy this book even if you did not read the first book in the series. But it is really great to hear about the same girls in book two. I really enjoy historical fiction about WWII, but this book is different and much lighter than most of what I read. So it is a nice break, but still informative about WWII. This story was also fun because horses were involved.

This is a story about women volunteering to do their part for the war effort doing hard physical jobs. Women coming together from all backgrounds and working together to support their country at war. Women that did not even like each other at first, but eventually became family.

This book does not portray these women as saints - they make mistakes. This is a book about relationships between women, men and members of a family. Women in this story were supportive at times, but also hateful and sarcastic. It was great to see women from different classes learning from each other, in a country where class really mattered. This is a story about living life outside of your comfort zone and becoming a better person for it.

Loved this the story along with the characters bring the book alive for the reader and I do so love the friendships these girls had.

I love the characters in this story. I became so involved and invested in there lives that I feel like I know them personally.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. Although I enjoy this genre, this book unfortunately didn't truly capture me. The concept was good, in that it was interesting seeing the war from the perspective of the Lumberjills, but none of the characters were particularly likeable, and while much of the book moved too slowly, the climax was unfortunately rushed.

The Highland Girls at war, the second book in the series and another great read. The lumberjills are back in a fast paced and wonderful story, full of suspense, romance and fighting the enemy to protect the locals. All of the girls story features and rolls into one. 2 new lumberjills arrive, Angie and Tattie but they’re not quite what they seem. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one.

Another corker of a story from Helen Yendall!
I read the first in the series a while ago and loved it, and this book is every bit as good as the first!
I'm well read when it comes to books set around the war periods and yet this series has introduced me to new elements that I had never heard of previously.
The lumberjills weren't known to me before reading the first book. The WHD is a new one for me in this book and I loved hearing about it and want to know more!
The characters that we know and love were still in this book with a few new additions that brought the smiles and the clenched jaws retrospectively. I can't wait to see if there will be a third or fourth to continue the stories and to see the end of the war.
Big thanks to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the first book so was happy to catch up with the timber girls again, lots of drama, romance and squabbles.

Would definately be best to read the 1st book

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this second book in the series

we are back with the lumberjills and they are about to get some new recruits

joey and seffy go to meet them at the train station and even though its been an eventful year for joey and seffy they can appreciate all that they have learnt in that time as lumberjills, so they face the new recruits with a smile on their faces knowing what these girls had coming to them...

tattie had hidden away in the luggage cart as her travel pass had been destroyed by someone at home but she was determined to restart her life but she knew she would never fit in... life had been hard on her

but it was about to get harder for seffy in more ways than one, along with feeling jilted by the man she had fallen in love with she was about to lose her leadership of the hut she was in to a new comer....

things were about to become interesting in more ways than one....

a good read that kept me entertained till the end.... life was hard as a lumberjill

I read the first book in this series and loved it and l have loved this one as well.. I would recommend this to anyone Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Books.

Year 1943, middle of WW2, and we are back with the lumberjills in Scotland. This is the second book and I hope there will be more as this is very interesting and a worthwhile read. Well worth 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for this ARC

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion

I had read the first book in the series and though it is possible to read this as a standalone book there is relatively little information about the work the Lumberjills actually carry out. There was certainly more descriptive writing in the first book on this aspect. In this book the only tree to be felled was on the first page!

This was more a story of relationships and friendships, enmity and misunderstandings between the girls and the people that they met.

This book was possibly more centred on Lady Persephone and the Women's alternative to the Mens Home Guard and their training.
There was new characters of course and finding out more about old ones. To give more would be to provide too many spoilers in my opinion

The book was well researched and well written. The E-copy I had was hard to read in places with the action being with one set of characters and then something happening to another on the next line. I think there should have been at least a line break - it did make for interesting reading at times.

It was definitely left that there could well be another instalment to look forward to - I certainly would look out for it

The Highland Girls on Guard ( The Highland Girls #2) by Helen Yendall picked up right where The Highland Girls at War ( The Highland Girls #1) left off. I was so happy to be reunited with the characters introduced in the first book of this series and be introduced to some new characters as well. The Highland Girls on Guard was well written, fast paced and well plotted. There was a sense of undisguised jealousy, sheer determination, deception and romance woven throughout this second book of this enjoyable series. I loved getting reacquainted with the characters from the first book and being introduced to the new ones. Helen Yendall masterfully transported her reading audience back to Blantyre Forest, in the Scottish Highlands, where the Lumberjills performed their jobs as only they knew how to.

As Seffy and the other Lumberjills were finishing up their work on a warm Saturday afternoon during the summer, Miss McEwen, the lumberjill’s former supervisor, suddenly appeared. None of the Lumberjills were too pleased to see her again. Miss McEwen announced that eight new recruits would be joining them shortly. These new recruits would be given beds in the existing huts and would live with the older recruits as they received their training. Miss McEwen had asked Joey to drive the truck to the station to retrieve the new recruits. Joey was permitted to choose one other Lumberjill to accompany her. Joey picked Seffy to accompany her to the station. Seffy and Joey had gotten closer since Grace tied the knot with Gordy and had married him. Seffy was extremely jealous of Grace and Gordy and everything they shared. Her romance and feelings for Callum had all but been forgotten about by her friends. Seffy knew that she could never have Callum’s heart but that didn’t diminish the feelings she still had for him. It was just too hard for Seffy to witness how happy and in love Grace was every single day. Seffy started to avoid Grace any way she possibly could.

When Seffy and Joey finally arrived at the train station the new recruits were waiting for them. As they checked off each girl’s name on the clipboard that Miss McEwen had given them, they noticed that one girl was missing…someone called A. Buchanan. Another girl, Tattie, was detained a few minutes but finally joined the other recruits. Tattie would be assigned to the Macdonald hut and would live with Seffy, Joey, Grace and the other girls from that hut. The Lumberjills of Macdonald hut would learn that Tattie had never learned to read or write and that she had grown up in a very troubled home. Tattie just wanted to fit in anyway she could. A few days later, A. Buchanan showed up. She had arrived at the Lumberjills’ camp in a truck driven by some of the Italian POW prisoners that worked in the area. A. Buchanan was Angie, a petite, dark-haired girl from another camp located in Aberdeenshire. Angie and Miss McEwen seemed to know one another. Miss McEwen introduced Angie as an “experienced lumberjill and forewoman “. Seffy took an immediate dislike to Angie and did not trust her at all. When Miss McEwen appointed Angie as the new leader girl of Macdonald hut, Seffy disliked her even more. Seffy had lost her position as the leader girl to Angie. Were Seffy’s initial instincts correct not to trust or like Angie or was it just her pride that was hurt very badly?

The Highland Girls on Guard portrayed the struggles women encountered during those times when they chose to form branches of the Women’s Home Defense Corps to learn how to defend themselves. It was an uphill battle for women to get the approval they needed and wanted so badly to for, these groups. Seffy’s Aunt Dily was instrumental in starting a Women’s Home Defense Corps in the Scottish Highlands. Many of the Lumberjills and local women were recruited and trained behind the scenes so that the men could not discover and stop their activities.

The Highland Girls on Guard also spoke of the Italian POW prisoners that had been captured and were being held close to where the Lumberjills were located. Over the course of World War II, many Italian POW prisoners became engaged in local work near where they were being held. It was no wonder, then, that after the members of the Number Thirty-Four Company of the Canadian Foresting Corps left the Scottish Highlands in order to train for combat in England, that the Italian POW prisoners were commissioned to work side by side with the Lumberjills. Several romances sprung up between the Lumberjills and the Italian POW prisoners.

The Highland Girls on Guard by Helen Yendall was a welcomed addition in this series. I enjoyed discovering more about the lives of the Lumberjills and their relationships with each other. The formation of the Women’s Home Defense Corps was one that I have never read about before. I have read about the Italian POW prisoners in books where they helped the land girls on farms in England but was not aware that they were also present in the Scottish Highlands. The Highland Girls on Guard was about friendship, romance, trust, being accepted, having good instincts, forgiveness, proving one’s worth and doing things you believed in no matter what the consequences were. I really enjoyed The Highland Girls on Guard by Helen Yendall and hope that there will be a third book in this series. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction that portrays strong, resilient and determined women.

Thank you to HQ for allowing me to read The Highland Girls on Guard by Helen Yendall through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Publication is set for March 12, 2024

I couldn’t wait to be back in Blantyre Forest with Seffy, Joey and all my favourite lumberjills, and I was not disappointed one bit.

The Highland Girls on Guard is an epic, sweeping tale of friendship & betrayal, and the astounding impact that sheer force of will, and a determination not to be underestimated, can have. Somehow Helen Yendall manages to weave lighthearted humour, yearning love stories, fierce feminism and high-stakes action into 400 pages without losing the beating heart of the story. At no time does the writing or plot feel over the top, or cheesy. It’s romantic and heartfelt, and the whole time I felt like I was right there in the forest with the lumberjills.

Before reading The Highland Girls at War I was ignorant to the war efforts of the lumberjills, and once again Helen Yendall has brought to the forefront the too easily forgotten impact of women during the world wars. The beautiful storytelling effortlessly transports you to 1940s Scotland, educating and entertaining in seamless blend. I loved learning more about the Women’s Home Defence and the incredibly brave women who put their heads above the parapet for their country.

I could talk about this series for hours on end and I recommend it to everyone I know. I can only hope there will be a third!

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

It was lovely to be back with the lumberjills again and read about what Seffy and friends are doing.

We find that things have changed for her, she’s feeling unhappy, her friend is happy as she got married. Not only that, she’s informed that another lumberjill will be in charge as leader, taking her place. Which Seffy isn’t too pleased about.

Apart from all that, some POW who are Italian are located nearby and the girls are distracted from doing their duties.

I liked how the story had you hooked, to continue reading, wanting to know what happens to Seffy and her pals in their friendship and fallouts.

I recommend this book.

The Highland Girls on Guard was an exciting, eyeopening story. I love reading WW2 historical fiction because I know there will be lots of action. I devour historical fiction because it gives me glimpses into what life was like in World War 2. The challenges of war, brought to life, in the story made for an addictive read.

I had never read of the Women's Timber Corp before I started reading this series. My mum, who lived through war torn England, had never heard of them. I spent hours reading about these fascinating women. Thanks to this story. I was able to picture what they did and the struggles they experienced. I am grateful for what they did. I know I couldn't do it.

The women felled trees Monday through Saturday afternoon. Yet they still had time to join the Women's Home Guard created by Seffy's aunt. It was a brilliant idea. On Saturday afternoons they learned how to defend themselves and those around them. Duty to King and Country occupied their time.

The characters were an eclectic mix. Seffy was a Lady with an aunt nearby. Tattie escaped a difficult family and rough life but can't read or write. Others fell in between them socially and economically. It was an atmosphere that brewed conflict and lots of drama that was fun to read. Romance and jealousy riddled the pages. Women living roughly, in close quarters always creates drama. This story has lots and lots of addictive drama.

There is someone at the camp causing troubles. Everyone is blaming everyone else. The "whodunnit" idea runs through out the story until it explodes. Boy, does it go up in smoke. It was a reminder of how there were spies everywhere during the war.

Fingers crossed for a book three.

I am pleased that l can give feedback on this interesting and exciting book. The characters are all different from the quiet one to the scheming one who liked to cause trouble. This is a book l would recommend to be read.

I was all set to give 4 stars. Its a lovely warm story about a group of women living and working together in the forest near Inverness during the war. Female friendship, hard work, a love of horses, and a touch of romance. And then, with about 20% of the book still to read, the excitement kicked in and suddenly there was action, intrigue, danger and heroism. In those final chapters I upgraded this to a 5 star read! You don't need to have read Book 1 but it helps as an introduction to the main characters and the work they do. The romance remains tantalisingly unresolved but I have high hopes for book 3!

Having thoroughly enjoyed book one, I was glad to be back in the world of WW2 and the Timbergils. Helen Yendall is again having fun with her girls, old and new as they cut timber for the war effort. An easy read, you will find a story of WW2, of fitting in when you are forced to be with others, finding inner strength, growing up, fighting against that time’s ’women should not fight’ attitude, romance and squabbles, finding the strength to stand up for yourself and finally …….. well read the book as I’m trying not to give you spoilers. Let’s just say there’s lots of humour, angst and excitement waiting for the reader. Thank you to HQStories and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

The Highland Girls #2

Scotland, 1943. It's a long, hot summer in Scotland, but the Women's Timber Corps have more than forest fires to worry about.

Upper class Steffy has spent months proving herself to the other young women, but when new recruits arrive, she quickly feels lost again. She distracts herself by helping set up a women's Home Defence Corps, but the idea soon meets resistance by the locals

Dependable Joey had turned her back on love, since she ran away from heartbreak to join the Corps, but when she crosses paths with a soldier deployed nearby, she feels a connection with him, she's never felt before.

And young Tattie is desperate to impress the other women and make a new life for herself, far away from her troubled home.

The Lumberjills are back, with some old faces and some new ones as well. The women are chopping down trees to aid the war effort. The plot was interesting, but there really wasn't much felling getting done. I would have liked to lean more on that. The pace is fast in this compelling read. There's so much going on in the women's lives, and the Italian POW are being a bit problematic for some of the Lumberjills.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQStories and the author #HelenYenfell for my ARC of #TheHighlandGirlsOnGuard in exchange for an honest review.

Another terrific read from Helen Yendall. The lumberjills, clearing the forests in Scotland during WW2, their childish spats, romances, and bravery all come together in a very tidy and humorous novel. It also features the formation of the Women’s Home Defence, opening opportunities for women to play a more active role in the War. It’s a cosy heartwarming story and page turner, once started difficult to put down.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers HQ Digital for this e-APC.